Inspecting means



M. N. DAVIS El AL 2,33,6M

INSPECTING MEANS Filed Dec. 2, 1932 '7 Sheets-Sheet l ,gmww

y M. N. DAVIS ET AL 2,3?5,6M

' INSPECTING MEANS Filed Dec. 2, 1932 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 L A H B V A D NM INSPECTING MEANS Filed Dec. 2, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 fizz/222265.- Zff Fez 7-425 JGrez'rzer March w, 1936, M N, AV ETA; ww m INSPEGTINGMEANS Filed Dec. 2, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I fzzzrezzflf /Z@2"Z /Yflaws CharZesJ Grez'izer Gammafafar r m a K @ef/ecior 7 Sheets-Sheet 6/l\ in. 4 Il- INSPECTING MEANS Filed Dec. 2, 1932 L A m m V A D N Mjg/T6022: Ck

Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE INSPECTING MEANSApplication December 2, 1932, Serial No. 645,398

17 Claims.

This invention relates to an arrangement applied to an article producingmachine, for inspecting the same and causing defective articles to be.thrown out before reaching the point of delivery of commercially perfectarticles. In this application, the inspecting means contemplated isillustrated as applied to a machine for manufacturing and packingsanitary napkins and the arrangement disclosed has particular referenceto the inspection of the gauze which is used to form wrappers aroundabsorbent pads.

In the mills where gauze is produced, it is customary to indicatedefective portions of gauze by sewing a black string across the width ofthe gauze. Also, where splices in the gauze are made, it is customary toindicate such splices, and in fact, to make such splices, by means ofadhesive tape which is black on the back side.

In the production of sanitary napkins, it is .:.a important thatdefective pieces of gauze or gauze splices, marked as above mentioned,be removed.

so that such defective portions will not be embodied in a sanitarynapkin. However, in the production of such napkins by machine, it is 25objectionable to interrupt the operation of the machine for the purposeof removing such defective gauze portions.

According to the present invention, the napkin forming mechanism ispermitted to operate continually, even to using defective gauzeportions, but such napkins as embody a defective gauze portion areautomatically thrown out before the napkin is delivered to the packingmaclm'ne or to the receiver.

The main objects of the invention are to provide means for inspection,on a sanitary napkin making machine, of the strip of gauze which entersinto the production of napkins by the machine; to provide an arrangementwhereby the gauze may be inspected before it is folded around a pad,while the. actual rejection or removal of any defective portion isdelayed and caused to occur at some suitable time after the napkin iscompleted; and in general, it is the object of J the invention toprovide improved means for inspecting material to be used in theproduction of an article and to effect rejection of any articleembodying a portion of the material having a defect detected by theinspecting means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood byreference to the following specification and accompanying drawings ('7sheets) in which we have described and illustrated a preferredembodiment cf inspectingand rejecting mechanism applied to a machine formaking sanitary napkins.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation.

Fig. 1a is a side elevation of a portion of the sanitary napkin makingmechanism which is connected to the right hand end of the mechanismillustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of certain timing mechanism, a cover plate beingremoved to more clearly illustrate the mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-'-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of certain throw-out mechanism alsoillustrated in Fig. 10.

Fig. 6 is a plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a plan section on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrammatic representations of certainphoto-electric cell or electric eye means for inspecting the gauze.

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram illustrating the electric circuits embodiedin the mechanism.

Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 are diagrammatic representations of varioussteps in the method of inspection employed in the described mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, the pad making mechanism hereinillustrated includes a machine of the type illustrated in the patent toWilliam Bauer No. 1,794,358. machine embodies a table 211 over which astrip of gauze 2| is drawn or propelled, the strip being drawn from asource of supply such as a roll 22. A strip of wadding material is fedtransversely of the length of the table 20 and pad sections of theproper width are cut from the strip by means of a reciprocating cutter23. It will be understood that the pads of absorbent material cut off bythe cutter 23 are of a length equal to the width of the strip from whichcut and of a width according to the amount of feed movement imparted tothe strip of absorbent material between each cutting reciprocation ofthe cutter 23. The width of the pad is perferably about one-third theWidth of the gauze strip and the pad is pereferably deposited centrallyof the width of the gauze strip and successive pads are deposited inlongitudinally spaced relation. The gauze strip is folded around thepads by means of folders such as indicated at 24. A string of connectedsanitary pads thus issues from the pad making machine and the gauzebetween the adjacent ends of the spaced pads is severed at the properintervals from the pad ends by means of a rotary cutter 25. Independentpads are thus The Bauer pad making deposited on a conveyor 26 whichcarries them into a mechanism designated 21 which folds the gauze endflaps over the wrapped pad portion.

The sanitary napkins are, in fact, complete when they issue from thefolding machine 2"! and they are delivered to a conveyor 28 whichcarries them to the desired receiving means. In this instance, theconveyor 28 carries the pads to a packing machine 29 which serves topack one dozen pads in a box. The details of operation of the variousnapkin forming and packing units are not involved in the presentinvention, and hence more detailed description thereof is deemedunnecessary.

For inspecting the gauze strip 2 l, photo-electric cell mechanism 36 ispositioned over an edge portion of the strip of gauze 2| at a point inadvance of the folders 24. The arrangement is such that when a blackstring or tape passes under a beam of light in the inspecting mechanism30, a timing mechanism 3| will be set and pad ejecting mechanism 32 willbe actuated when the pad embodying the marked portion of gauze passesthe ejector or throw-out device 32.

The photo-electric cell is not of itself a new device and for thepurpose of this application, it may be described as including aphoto-electric cell 33 which generates or permits to pass an electricalimpulse, or causes a sudden change from a steady current, when theintensity of light impressed thereon is reduced by the passage of ablack string or tape marking a defect or splice in the gauze strip. Theinspection device 39 also includes a light source such as an electriclamp 34, a reflector 35 and suitable lenses 35 which concentrate thelight on a predetermined area. A suitable reflector 31 is also providedfor reflecting light to the photo-electric cell. As represented in Fig.10, the photo-electric cell and the light source are arranged over amarginal portion of the strip of gauze. A black string indicating adefect in the gauze is indicated at 38, and a black tape indicating asplice in the gauze is indicated at 39. It will be seen that the stringand tape elements 38 and 39 respectively will pass through the zone ofinspection covered by the inspection unit, and hence will cause anelectrical impulse to be passed by the photo-electric cell.

The timing mechanism 3| includes a rotor 46 which is secured to a shaft4|. The shaft 4| is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 42 and 43provided in the casing 44 and cover .5 respectively of the timer. Theshaft 4! has secured to it a gear 46. Another shaft 41 is rotatablymounted in the casing and cover of the timer, and this shaft is providedwith a pinion gear 48 meshing with the gear 46. The shaft 41' is alsoprovided with a sprocket wheel 49. A chain 58 extending around thesprocket wheel 49 and around a suitable sprocket on the shaft of therotary pad cutter serves to effect rotation of the shaft 41. It wil beunderstood that the cutter shaft 5| is rotated in synchronized relationto the passage of sanitary napkins produced by the mechanism describedand that by properly selected sprocket and gear ratios, the shafts 47and 4| may be caused to rotate in predetermined synchronized relation tothe production and travel of the sanitary napkins. In the presentmechanism, the sprocket ratios and gear ratios are such that the shaft41 rotates once for each two pads produced by the machine and the shaft4| rotates once for each l2 pads produced.

The arrangement herein described is such that there are six pads betweenthe point of inspection and the throw-out mechanism 32. The timerincludes a series of devices which are respectively adapted to representa pad in the course of travel between the inspecting unit and thethrow-out mechanism, and said devices are adapted to be set by currentpassed by the photo-electric cell and to subsequently actuate thethrow-out mechanism. In the rotor there is mounted a series of twelveshoes or cam devices 52. Since the rotor makes one turn for each twelvepads 1 made, it will be evident that each shoe or cam device 52 willmake one-half a revolution during the time the pad represented by it istraveling from the inspecting unit 39 to the throw-out mechanism 32.

The shoes 52 are mounted in the rotor so as to be radially adjustableinwardly and outwardly. As best shown in Fig. 4, each shoe includes ashank portion 53 which is slidable between the slide plates 54 and 55 ofthe rotor and in a recess of a trigger or latch 6| which is pivoted on ashaft such as 52. The latch 6| has a hook portion 63 adapted to hookover the projecting end of the pin 59. A coil spring 64 is suitablyconnected at its ends to the latch BI and the pin 62 and normally urgesthe latch to move into locking relation to the pin 59. A stop pin 65serves to limit such movement of the latch 6| under the influence of thespring 64 and serves to prevent side thrust on the pin 59 and shoe 52.

In the upper portion of the casing 3|, there is provided an electricallyactuated device for disengaging the triggers or latches 6| when adefective portion of gauze is detected by the electric eye 30. Thisdevice includes a plunger 65 which is slidably mounted in a bracket 66and is provided at its lower end with a head 61. At its upper end, theplunger 65 is provided with an end member 68 which may be adjustedlengthwise of the plunger to adjust its length. The plunger is normallymaintained in a retracted position by means of a coil spring 69 which isdisposed around the plunger between its upper end head 68 and thebracket portion 65 in which the plunger is slidably mounted. An armaturel0 pivotally mounted as indicated at H on a portion of the bracket 86has a laminated soft iron portion 12 which is adapted to be attracted byan electro-magnet 13. At its outer or free end, the armature 10 has aleg 14 which engages the upper end of the plunger head 68 so that whenthe magnet 13 is energized and draws the armature downwardly, theplunger 65 is lowered.

When the plunger is lowered, its lower head 61 will be disposed in thepath of travel of the latches 6| and will serve to disengage one of thelatches 6| from a pin 59 to thereby permit one of the plungers 52 to bemoved outwardly by its spring 58.

For temporarily retaining the plunger 65 in lowered position, a latch ortrigger I5 is provided. The latch 15 is pivoted as indicated at 16 onthe bracket 66, and at its lower end it has a pin 18 which is adapted tofit over the shoulder 19 formed by the plunger head 61 when the plungerhead is lowered. A spring normally serves to urge the latch I5 intolocking position. Each of the shoes 52 is provided with a pin 8| whichis adapted to engage a portion of the latch to release the plunger afterthe plunger has accomplished its purpose of disengaging thecorresponding latch BI.

In the lower portion of the timer casing 3|, there is provided anelectric circuit-making device which includes a bell crank member 82pivoted as indicated at 83 in the timer casing. One arm 84 of the bellcrank is provided with a roller 85 adapted to be engaged by one of theshoes 52 when extended outwardly by the means above explained. The otherarm 86 of the bell crank is provided at its free end with a suitablemetallic or electric conducting element 81 which is mounted on the saidarm 86 through the agency of a block of insulating material 89. Thecontact member 8'! is electrically connected by means of a flexibleconnector 89' to a conductor pin 89 and is adapted to make contact withanother conductor pin 99. The pins 89 and 99 are carried by aninsulating material support 9|. Electric conductors 92 and 93 aresecured to the pins 89 and 99 respectively, and these conductors arefurther connected to electric actuating and control means associatedwith the pad throw-out or rejecting mechanism 32. A spring 94 normallyserves to maintain the bell crank member 82 in inoperative position andagainst a stop pin 95 carried by the casing.

A roller 96 is suitably mounted in the casing 3| in such position thatafter an extended shoe 52 has actuated the bell crank 82, such shoe willengage the roller 96 and be thereby forced back toits normal positionwherein the latch 6| is caused by its spring 64 to again lock such shoein retarded, normal position.

For purposes which will presently appear, the following devices are alsomounted in the timer casing 3|. A relay 9'! is suitably secured to thecasing and includes an electro magnet 98 which actuates an armature 99.The armature 99 is pivoted at one end as indicated at I99 on a portionof the relay frame and at its free end, the armature is provided with aconductor element I9I which is carried by a block of insulating ma:terial I92 suitably secured to the armature 99. Contact members I93 andI94 are suitably supported by means of a block of insulating materialI95 and these contact members are so arranged that the member I93 is inelectrical contact with the contact member I9I when the armature is inits outward position and so that the contact member I94 electricallyengages the armature contact I9I when the armature is swung to itsinwardly adjusted position as an incident to the energizing of the relaymagnet 98. When the contact I93 is electrically connected to the contactI9I, the member I94 engages only the insulating material member I92.When the contact member I94 is in electrical engagement with the contactI9I, the member I93 contacts only with the opposite side of theinsulating member I92. A spring pressed plunger I96 serves to normallyhold the armature 99 in its outwardly adjusted position and to restoreit to such position after the electro magnet 98 is deenergized. Thearrangement is preferably such that when the relay is actuated, theelement I 9| will make contact with the member I93 before it isdisengaged from the member I94 and vice versa so that the element I9I isalways in contact with one or the other of the contact members I93andI94. A momentarily open circuit and impairment of the effectivenessof the inspecting unit is thus avoided.

A circuit breaker indicated at I9! is also mounted in the casing. Thiscircuit breaker includes a metallic rotor I98 which is suitably mountedon the shaft 41 which rotates once for each two pads made. The rotor I98is provided with diametrically oppositely disposed insulating materialinserts I99-I99. There is a pair of contact fingers H9 and Ill (seeFigs. 2 and 11) which brush against the rotor or commutator I98. It willbe understood that so long as the brushes or contacts H9 and III engagethe metallic surface of the commutator I98, an electric current willflow from one of the brushes, through the commutator and through theother brush. However, when the contact members I I9 and I I I rest onone of the insulating material inserts I99, any electric circuitincluding the brushes H9 and III is interrupted.

The threw-out mechanism The throw-out mechanism is embodied in aconveyor structure which carries the sanitary napkins from the conveyor28 to the packing machine 29. Such conveyor is indicated at II2intermediate pulleys II 3 and II 4 which guide the conveyor II2. Thereis provided a member II5 which is hinged at one end as indicated at H9.The hinge H9 connects the member II5 to a side guide element II! whichis disposed at one side of the conveyor I I2, such guide element beingrigidly supported by suitable means, for example, by means of bracketsII8 which are secured to a portion of the framework of the mechanism.The member I I5 is adapted to be swung from its normal position as shownin full lines in Fig. 8 to a pad rejecting or throw-out position asindicated in dotted lines in said Fig. 8. Obviously, when the member II5 is in the throw-out position indicated in dotted lines, a pad carriedupwardly on the conveyor I I2 will be deflected from the conveyor to adischarge chute I I9 which carries the defective pad to a suitablereceptacle.

The mechanism for actuating the member I I5 includes a solenoid I29which is connected in series with the contact members 89 and 99 in thetimer casing. The free end of the plunger IZI of the solenoid has a linkI22 pivotally connected thereto and the other end of the link I22 isconnected to the free end of the arm I23 of a bell crank I24. The bellcrank I 24 is pivoted as indicated at I on a suitable bracket elementand the other arm I29 of the bell crank is provided with a pin and slotconnected as indicated at I2! with the end of a rod I28. The rod I28 isslidably mounted in a suitable bearing element provided as a part of theframework or bracket and the said rod is pivotally connected asindicated at I39 to the swinging member II5. A spring I3I on the rod I28normally serves to hold the member II5 in its inoperative position andto return it to such position from its deflecting position as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 8. A suitable cushioned bumper or stop I32serves to limit return movement of the member The member II5 ispreferably provided with a top plate I33, and a cover or guard plate I34is preferably positioned over the swinging member II5.

Electrical connections between the electric eye and thetimer mechanismThis photo-cell or electric eye 33 is connected to a suitable audiofrequency amplifier tube I35 by means of a conventional resistancecondenser coupling such as is used in audio frequency amplifiers.Impulses transmitted by the photo-cell are thus amplified and suchamplified signals are transmitted by means of an audio frequencytransformer such as indicated at I36, or by means of a suitableresistance condenser coupling, to the grid of an electronic relayindicated at I3I. Such a relay is typified by General Electric Companysso-called Thyratron tube (type FG-27L and one of its characteristics isthat it either passes no current at all or, if the voltage on thecontrolling grid exceeds a predetermined value, even momentarily, itallows a very large current to pass until such time as the voltageapplied to the plate of the tube is momentarily interrupted. Once thecurrent has started to pass, the grid loses control and current willcontinue passing until such current is momentarily interrupted.

As indicated in the wiring diagram, Fig. 11, the Thyratron tube isconnected in series with the magnet I3 which controls the plunger 65,and the circuit also includes the magnet 98 of the relay 91. The relaynormally is so arranged that the Thyratron circuit by-passes thecommutator I01 but cuts the commutator into the circuit when the magnet08 is energized. It will thus be seen that when a current is caused toflow in the Thyratron circuit, the commutator will be cut into thecircuit by the relay and that the insulating material inserts I09 in thecommutator will periodically interrupt the Thyratron circuit to therebystop the flow of current until a new impulse is impressed on the grid ofthe Thyratron.

Operation The operation of the mechanical elements described has alreadybeen indicated and the following description is particularly directed tothe operation of the electrical circuits.

In Fig. 12, a length of gauze X is indicated as having a defectindicated at A at the point intermediate the ends of the length of gauzeand more than three inches from either end of the gauze length. It willbe understood that by gauze length is meant the length of the strip ofgauze which will be cut off with a pad wrapped therein. Another gauzelength immediately following the length X is indicated at Y. Theelectric eye or photo-cell inspector 33 is illustrated with the gauzelength X in such relation thereto that the defect A marked by a blackstring is at that moment causing the transmission of an electricalimpulse by the photo-cell. Such an impulse acting through the audioamplifier I35 and transformer I36 causes the flow of current in theThyratron circuit. When the Thyratron circuit is thus completed, theplunger 65 is lowered and immediately latched in lowered position by thelatch I5. The relay 9! is also actuated and the commutator I0I is cutinto the Thyratron circuit.

The commutator IN is so positioned with respect to the position of eachgauze length on the conveyor of the folding machine that when the rearend of such gauze length comes to a position three inches in the rear ofthe electric eye, one of the insulator inserts I09 of the commutator I01breaks the Thyratron circuit by interrupting the flow of current betweenthe brushes I I0 and I I I. The magnet I3 which controls the plunger 65is also deenergized but the plunger remains down since it is locked insuch position by the latch I5.

The position and operations just referred to are illustrated in Fig. 13.

The plunger 65 being lowered, it is in position to disengage the latch6| which is about to pass through the zone occupied by the plunger inlowered position. The rotor 40 of the timer is so set that the actualengagement between a latch 6I and the plunger 65 takes place when theend of the gauze length has reached a point three inches beyond theelectric eye substantially as indicated in Fig. 14. When the gauzelength X reaches such position, the plunger 65 disengages the latch 6Ithereby permitting a shoe 52 to move outwardly. The extended shoe 52then represents the defective gauze length. The latch I5 which looks theplunger 65 in lowered position is moved to inoperative position by thepin SI of the shoe just extended, such operation taking place verypromptly after the latch 6| is disengaged; hence, the plunger 65 returnsto normal position under the influence of its spring 69. By the time theplunger 52 which is extended as above described. reaches a position toact on the bell crank 82, the gauze length represented by such shoe isentering the zone of operation of the deflecting mem ber of ejector H5.The shoe 52 actuates the bell crank 82 to complete the circuit of thesolenoid I20 and thereby causes the member II5 to swing to the dottedline position indicated in Fig. 8 where it serves to eject the defectivenapkin.

In the event that a defect should be located adjacent the rear end ofthe gauze strip X, for example, as indicated at B, and within threeinches of the end of the gauze strip, the same operation as described inconnection with Fig.

12 will take place. The position of Fig. 13 having already been passed,the operations referred to in connection with Fig. 13 do not affect themechanism, but when the gauze length X reaches the position indicated inFig. 14, the operations referred to in connection with said Fig. 14 takeplace.

If, as represented in Fig. 16, there is a defect within the three inchesat the rear end of the gauze length X and also a defect as indicated atC within three inches of the front end of the following gauze length Y,the defect B at the rear end of the gauze length X will be detected inthe manner explained above in connection with Fig. 15. Thyratron circuitsince the defect B was detected, the plunger 65 is held down by themagnet I3 until the shoe 52 has passed to such a point that the latch 6|may reengage and hold the plunger 65 down until the gauze length Yreaches the position of the gauze length X illustrated in Fig. 14. Theoperations referred to in connection with Fig. 14 then take place withrespect to the gauze length Y. It will, of course, be understood thatthe commutator will break the Thyratron circuit when the gauze length Yreaches the position of the gauze length X illustrated in Fig. 13 toagain enable the photo-electric cell to function.

From the foregoing explanation, it will also be evident that even thougha defect marker appears only within the three inch zone at the rear endof a gauze length, the next succeeding gauze length will nevertheless beautomatically rejected. In other words, both gauze lengths X and Y willbe rejected even though only defect B is indicated by a marker. Thisarrangement is desirable because in many instances a gauze defeetextends lengthwise of the gauze strip considerably beyond the locationof the marker. Hence, the inspection mechanism effectively Since thecommutator has not broken the causes the rejection of all imperfectgauze lengths. Of course, it may be observed that in a few instances, aperfect gauze length may be rejected, but this is not seriouslyobjectionable since it involves but small cost and may be considered asa matter of insurance against the sale of imperfect articles.

It will be seen that by the arrangement described, the photo-electricinspector is effective for its described purpose regardless of thelocation of the defect in the length of the gauze and regardless of thenumber of times or rapidity with which defects occur in successive gauzelengths. The occurrence of defects B and C in adjacent ends of gauzelengths as referred to in connection with Fig. 16, may result from thefact that a black indicating string does not extend accurately at rightangles to the gauze length, and hence may be located in the adjacentends of two gauze lengths. The described arrangement is, of course,effective to reject both pads in which the defect indicating stringsoccur.

The purpose of the timer may be briefly stated to be that of storingenergy created or passed by the photo cell while the faulty pad istraveling the length of the machine and, at the proper time, to causethe throw-out unit to operate to reject the faulty pad. The timing ofthe operations to occur when the rear end of each gauze length is threeinches to the rear of and three inches in front of the photo electriccell, is a more or less arbitrary selection and may be varied asexperience shows the need of a longer or shorter distance.

The above described mechanism and electric circuits may be varied andadapted to suit other conditions without departing from the spirit ofthe described invention, the scope of which should be determined byreferring to the following claims, the same being construed as broadlyas possible, consistent with the state of the art.

We claim as our invention:-

1. In a machine for making absorbent bandages comprising an absorbentpad and a wrapper of sheet material, means for propelling a strip of thesheet material, means for depositing pads in longitudinally spacedrelation on said strip, means for folding the strip longitudinallyaround the pads as an incident to the travel of the strip, means forsevering the folded wrapper intermediate successive pads to thereby formrelatively independent bandages, means for inspecting the sheet materialbefore severance thereof, and means controlled by said inspecting meansfor rejecting any bandage having in its wrapper a defective portiondetected by said inspecting means.

2. In a machine for making absorbent bandages comprising an absorbentpad and a wrapper of sheet material, means for propelling a strip of thesheet material, means for depositing pads in longitudinally spacedrelation on said strip, means for folding the strip longitudinallyaround the pads as an incident to the travel of the strip, means forsevering the folded wrapper intermediate successive pads to thereby formrelatively independent bandages, means for inspecting the sheet materialbefore severance thereof, means for rejecting any bandage having in itswrapper a defective portion detected by said inspecting means, and meanscontrolled by said inspecting means for effecting operation of saidrejecting means after severance of the sheet material folded around thepads.

3. In a machine for making absorbent bandages comprising an absorbentpad and a wrapper of sheet material, means for propelling a strip ofthesheet material, means for depositing pads in longitudinally spacedrelation on said strip, means for folding the strip longitudinallyaround the pads as an incident to the travel of the strip, means forsevering the folded wrapper intermediate successive pads to thereby formrelatively independent bandages, a photo-electric cell disposed adjacentthe path of travel of said sheet material strip and in advance of thefolding means, said cell serving to permit the passage of an electriccurrent when a defect in said strip passes through the zone of activityof said cell, means for rejecting the bandage having in its wrapper adefect which is detected by said cell, and timing means set by thecurrent passed by said cell and operative to actuate said rejectingmeans after severance of the sheet material folded around the pads,

4. In a machine for making absorbent bandages comprising an absorbentpad and a wrapper of sheet material, means for propelling a strip of thesheet material, means for depositing pads in longitudinally spacedrelation on said strip, means for folding the strip longitudinallyaround the pads as in incident to the travel of the strip, means forsevering. the folded wrapper intermediate successive pads to therebyform relatively independent bandages, a photo-electric cell disposedadjacent the path of travel of said sheet material strip, and in advanceof the folding means, said cell serving to permit the passage of anelectric current when a defect in said strip passes through the zone ofactivity of said cell, electrically operated means for rejecting abandage having in its wrapper a defect which is detected by said cell,and timing means set by the current passed by said cell and operative toclose an electric circuit to actuate said rejecting means afterseverance of the sheet material folded around the pads.

5. In a machine for making absorbent bandages comprising an absorbentpad and a wrapper of sheet material, means for propelling a strip of thesheet material, means for depositing pads in longitudinally spacedrelation on said strip, means for folding the strip longitudinallyaround the pads as an incident to the travel of the strip, means forsevering the folded wrapper intermediate successive pads to thereby formrelative- 1y independent bandages, means for inspecting the sheetmaterial before severance thereof, means for rejecting any bandagehaving in its wrapper a defective portion detected by said inspectingmeans, and a timer having a plurality of elements, respectivelycorresponding to bandage portions in the machine between the inspectingmeans and the rejecting means, said timer elements being independentlyadjustable as an incident to the passage of electric currents by saidinspecting means and each element being operative to effect operation ofsaid rejecting means when the corresponding bandage is in the zone ofoperation of said rejecting means.

6. In a machine for making absorbent bandages comprising an absorbentpad and a wrapper of sheet material, means for propelling a strip of thesheet material, means for depositing pads in longitudinally spacedrelation on said strip, means for folding the strip longitudinallyaround the pads as an incident to the travel of the strip, means forsevering the folded wrapper intermediate successive pads to thereby formrelatively independent bandages, means for inspecting the sheet materialbefore severance thereof, means for rejecting any bandage having in itswrapper a defective portion detected by said inspecting means, and meanscontrolled by said inspecting means for eifecting operation of saidrejecting means after severance of the sheet material folded around thepads, said means including an arrangement whereby when a defect isdetected within a predetermined distance from the rearward end portionof a wrapper length of said sheet material, the next succeeding bandagewill also be rejected.

'7. In mechanism according to claim 1, an electric circuit including aninitial circuit embodying a photo-electric cell for causing an electriccurrent to flow under predetermined conditions only, an electronic relaycircuit controlled by the impulse passed by said cell, and means forperiodically interrupting said electronic relay circuit.

8. In mechanism according to claim 1, an electric circuit including aninitial circuit embodying a photo-electric cell for causing an electriccurrent to flow under predetermined conditions only, an amplifyingcircuit for amplifying the impulse passed by said initial circuit, anelectronic relay circuit controlled by the impulse passed by said celland amplified by said amplifier circuit, and means for periodicallyinterrupting said electronic relay circuit.

9. In mechanism according to claim 1, an electric circuit including aninitial circuit embodying a photo-electric cell for causing an electriccurrent to flow under predetermined conditions only, an electronic relaycircuit controlled by the impulse passed by said cell, means forperiodically interrupting said electronic relay circuit, and relay meansnormally by-passing said interrupting means and actuated by said impulseto switch the same into the circuit.

10. In a machine for wrapping sheet material around absorbent pads toform absorbent bandages, photo-electric means for causing the passage ofan electric current when a defect in a portion of the bandage passesthrough the zone of activeness of said cell, means for rejecting thebandage which contains such defect, timing means controlled by saidelectric current and operative to effect operation of said rejectingmeans at a time subsequent to the passage of said electric current, saidtiming means comprising a rotor, a series of members independentlyadjustably mounted on said rotor and respectively coresponding toabsorbent bandages in the course of production in the machine betweensaid photo-electric means and said rejecting means, means actuated bysaid current for effecting adjustment of said members, a circuit breakeractuated by said members for controlling said rejecting means, anelectrically operated relay and a mechanically actuated interrupter inthe circuit of said current actuated means, said relay being operativeto normally by-pass said interrupter and to switch the latter into thecircuit upon passage of said current.

11. In a machine for wrapping sheet material around absorbent pads toform absorbent bandages, photo-electric means for causing the passage ofan electric impulse when a defect in a portion of the bandage passesthrough the zone of activeness of said cell, means for rejecting thebandage which contains such defect, timing means including an electriccircuit controlled by the impulse passed by said photo electric means,said timing means being'operative to actuate said rejecting means at atime subsequent to the passage of said impulse and comprising a rotor, aseries of members independently adjustably mounted on said rotor andrespectively corresponding to absorbent bandages in the course ofproduction in the machine between said photo-electric means and saidrejecting means, means controlled by said electric circuit for effectingadjustment of said members, means engaged by said members when inadjusted position for actuating said rejecting means, an interrupter insaid electric circuit including a commutator having means forinterrupting said circuit, and means for rotating said commutator at apredetermined speed to interrupt said circuit at regular periods.

12. In a machine for wrapping sheet material around absorbent pads toform absorbent bandages, photo-electric means for causing the passage ofan electric impulse when a defect in a portion of the bandage passesthrough the zone of activeness of said cell, means for rejecting thebandage which contains such defect, timing means including an electriccircuit controlled by the impulse passed by said photo electric means,said timing means being operative to actuate said rejecting means at atime subsequent to the passage of said impulse and comprising a rotor, aseries of members independently adjustably mounted on said rotor andrespectively corresponding to absorbent bandages in the course ofproduction in the machine between said photoelectric means and saidrejecting means, means controlled by said electric circuit for effectingadjustment of said members, means engaged by said members when inadjusted position for actuating said rejecting means, an interrupter insaid circuit including a commutator having means for interrupting saidcircuit, means for rotating said commutator at a predetermined speed tointerrupt said circuit at regular periods, and an electric relaycontrolled by said circuit, normally by-passing said interrupter butswitching the same into said circuit upon passage of an electric impulseby said photo-electric means.

13. A timer for the purpose described, comprising a rotor, a pluralityof members arranged in relatively spaced relation around said rotor,means normally urging said members to move to a predetermined, operativeposition, latches for holding said members in inoperative position,electrically actuated means for disengaging said latches, and meansadapted to be engaged by one of said members for actuating anothermechanism.

14. A timer for the purpose described, comprising a rotor, a pluralityof radially adjustable members arranged in relatively spaced relationaround said rotor, means normally urging said members to move outwardlyto a predetermined, operative position, latches for holding said membersin inoperative position, electrically actuated means for disengagingsaid latches, mechanical means for locking said electrically actuatedmeans in operative position, and means adapted to be engaged by one ofsaid members for actuating another mechanism.

15. In a machine for making absorbent bandages comprising an absorbentpad and a wrapper of sheet material, means for propelling a strip of thesheet material, means for depositing pads in longitudinally spacedrelation on said strip, means for folding the strip longitudinallyaround the pad as an incident to the travel of the strip, means forsevering the folded wrapper intermediate successive pads to thereby formrelatively independent bandages, a device disposed adjacent the path oftravel of said sheet material strip in advance of the folding means,said device being sensitive to and actuated by a defect in said sheetmaterial strip, means for rejecting a bandage having a defectivewrapper, and timing means controlled by said device for actuating saidrejecting means to reject a bandage having a Wrapper embodying a defectwhich actuated said device.

16. In a machine for wrapping sheet material around absorbent pads toform absorbent bandages, inspecting means for causing the passage of anelectric current when a defect in a portion of the bandage passesthrough the zone of operation of said inspecting means, means forejecting the bandage which contains such defect, timing means controlledby said electric current for causing operation of said rejecting meansat a time subsequent to the passage of said electric current, saidtiming means comprising a rotor, a series of members independentlyadjustably mounted on said rotor and respectively corresponding toabsorbent bandages in the course of production in the machine betweensaid inspecting means and said rejecting means, means actuated by saidcurrent for eiTecting adjustment of said members, a circuit breakeractuated by said members for controlling said rejecting means, anelectrically operated relay, and a mechanically actuated interrupter inthe circuit of said current actuated means, said relay being operativeto normally bypass said interrupter and to switch the latter into thecircuit upon passage of said current.

17. In a machine for making absorbent bandages comprising an absorbentpad a wrapper of sheet material, means for propelling a strip of thesheet material, means for depositing pads in longitudinally spacedrelation on said strip, means for folding the strip longitudinallyaround the pads, means for severing the folded wrapper intermediatesuccessive pads to thereby form relatively independent bandages, meansfor inspecting the sheet material. and means controlled by saidinspecting means for rejecting any bandage having in its wrapper adefective portion detected by said inspecting means, said inspecting andrejecting means comprising an initial electric circuit including meansfor causing an electric current to flow in said circuit underpredetermined conditions only, a relay circuit controlled by saidinitial circuit, means for periodically interrupting said relay circuit,and relay means normally bypassing said interrupting means and actuatedby said relay circuit to switch said interrupter into the circuit.

MYRL N. DAVIS. CHARLES J. GREINER.

